As you all know, Granlibakken is a family-owned and operated resort. Today, we bring you holiday memories and cheer from Ron Parson, Owner and General Manager of Granlibakken.

Ron spent his childhood throughout Europe including Holland, Belgium and Switzerland where Christmas, or rather Sinterklaas, was celebrated on December 5th and 6th. Like Toni from Germany, Ron and his family would put shoes out on the front porch for St. Nicholas, who would fill them with candies, fruits and nuts the next morning. Over the years, Ron, Lauren and their four kids have carried these traditions on in their celebrations stateside placing wooden clogs on the porch, to be filled with Dutch candies, shipped from friends in Holland.

Ron’s mother directed the Christmas Pageant in Antwerp. Year after year, he would play the Little Drummer Boy. When he finally told his mother that he had outgrown the role, he was re-cast as the peddler. Ron’s brought the pageantry of his childhood to Granlibakken with the Torchlight Parade, visit from Santa Claus and most recently, Bjorn t’Party, our Viking in-residence. Just as his mother did, Ron’s cast his family in Granlibakken’s festival. His father plays Santa.

For Ron, the holidays have always been about family. With the holidays, the Parson family grows to include the extended Granlibakken family of Luis, Toni, Isti and the entire staff as well as Granlibakken’s friends in the Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City community.

On behalf of the Parson family, we at Granlibakken wish you a safe and merry holiday.